ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Wednesday strongly rejected the ICAN report that in 2011 it spent $2.2 billion on its nuclear weapons programme, up from $1.8 billion in 2010.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) claimed that the expenditure is projected to increase substantially due to maintenance costs for its new plutonium infrastructure.Citing unknown sources ICAN added that Pakistan possesses between 90 and 110 nuclear weapons. Its arsenal has grown substantially in recent years, from 60 to 80 nuclear weapons in 2008. The report blamed that the nation aims to double the size of its nuclear arsenal in the next 5 to 10 years, with the eventual goal of 250 to 350 nuclear weapons of varying yields.

Commenting on report of (ICAN) about Pakistan’s nuclear programme, the Foreign Ministry said that the ICAN report was highly exaggerated and part of an insidious propaganda campaign.The ministry in a statement underlined that Pakistan’s strategic programme was modest aimed at maintaining a credible minimum deterrence to ensure national security. It emphasized that Pakistan’s primary focus had been on economic development and welfare of its people. He added that Pakistan was opposed to arms race in South Asian or in any other part of the world.

The report says that Pakistan’s military is able to launch nuclear weapons from land and air. Pakistan is rapidly improving its ballistic missile technology and the Shaheen II missile is under development.“Pakistan is also improving its nuclear infrastructure to allow for an increase in its production of weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium,” it said.Official sources said that the statistics provided by ICAN is baseless based on speculations and unconfirmed footings.“The report is absolutely faulty on the spending of nuclear programme in Pakistan,” they added. – Onlinenews